Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1887-07-27

Booth, accompanied by his wife, ar
| rived ct Norfolk, Va, from the Island
Of Madeira in q vessel, unhera!dcd and
unknown. He made his first appear
ance in Richmond, Va, and presented
himself TO MI. Gilfsrtt, the manager,
and said that he wished to perform.
He had no letters of introduction, and
his identity was very much doubted,
while at the rehearsal, which he merely
walked through" the actors looked
upon him as a fraud. But at night he
dispelled all doubts of his identity in
the performance Of Richard" Now,
the question has always arisen why he
arrived from the old country in such q
mysterious names. I think l can
throw some light upon the matter.
just before Booth left England he
was playing in Bath. Business was
dull, for he did not draw. A celebrated
gymnast was performing at the same
time at an opposition theater. His
name was Signor Antonio, or the "Lit-
tie Devil" He drew the crowd by his
wonderful performances on the slack
rope. Booth, after his performance,
went around to the other show and
commenced SnOuC2Hg.
"Mountebankl Mountcbank! Hum.
bug!!! A d~escration of the temple of
artl'
OF course he was elected by the po-
lice, but returned after the perform
ance and met Antonio. A few angry
words followed, and they came to blows;
next day they again met and a recon
ciliation took place. They then had q
supper, at which wine was freely par
taken Of. They parted late that night.
Antonio, going home, while passing
through q park, heard o pistol snap be-
hind him "a flint lock- 1t missed fire.
Antonio then turned and saw that it
was Booth, who fred a second shot.
The ball struck him in the cheek and
lodged in the back of his head. He fell
stunned, but was found shortly after
ward and taken to his hotel. Booth
fed from England to the continent, and
this is why Booth came to this country
in such a mysterious manner Antonio
recovered and came to the United
States, where he played at the lead
ing theaters with much success, and
finally fixed his home in st. Louis,
where he died a few years ago, respected
and loved by all who came in contact
with him. In his old age he became in
sane. The cause of his insanity was
supposed to be the shot fired by the
hand Of the elder Booth. Booth and
Antonio met in st. Louis and became
firm friends, and his son, Alfonso, now
has in his possession o watch seal which
was presented by Booth with the letter
"B" engraved upon an amethyst on tho
seal, which he keeps in remembrance
OF the drunken freak which occurred in
his fathers younger days.
Booths ancestors were fran Spain.
They were of Hebrew stock, and their
family name was Cabana, which, in the
Hebrew language, means Booth. They
fled to England to escape persecution.
His literary tastes and abilities we're of
high order. He a a linguist, rs he
spoke and wrote the French, German,
and Hebrew languages f1uently. He
was q grand admirer of the Koran and
familiar with the Talmud.
One day / asked him: care you not
n Jew in religion, Mr.. Booth?"
"No," said he, II am not. 1 was
born a Jew, but if one be borne in q
stable, it is no reason that he should be
a horse. / am q Mohammedan."
/ knew he was a frequenter of syna-
gogues, but he had the highest respect
for all places of religious worship, and
never passed n without bowling his
head. His charity was shown by deeds
Of philanthropy and humanity, not
talk. "He did good by stealth, and
blushed to find it fame.--SL Louis Re-
publican.